Holidays to Kos

It's all Greek to me!

Holidays to Greek islands have passed into legend as the most desirable thing to do on planet Earth. And why ever not - it allows us to sit there day dreaming in our cramped, cold offices of spotless blue skies, endless turquoise oceans, multi-coloured boats coming with the day's catch ready for our dinner in a taverna jutting out to sea. Dream no longer - paradise exists and it's called Kos!

Kos lies just 4km off the coast of Turkey and its history tells the tale of an island far too close to far too many warring Kings, countries and cities. For better or worse Kos is now Greek and the good thing is, it hasn't changed the temperature of the sun, the idyllic beaches or the majestic scenery one jot.

Hippocrates himself called Kos home and Kos marks their most famous son with an appropriately grand statue in a lovely setting. Across from the statue is the building that Hippocrates is said to have been educated in and the town of Kos is also home to a museum dedicated to him and the Hippocratic institute. The rest of Koan history can be seen ion the quite extraordinary ruins that dot the island. Look out for the Odeon open theatre, the ruins of the ancient gymnasium (these Greeks take their health seriously) and the ancient Roman mosaics found across the island.

Holiday Supermarket has excellent packages available in Kos town hotels and our access to great holidays to Greek Islands destinations make us an ideal choice to book Greek holidays.

Hints and tips for your Kos holiday

Eating

Eating out in Kos - cheap, expensive and everything in between

Aah, the wonders of Greek cooking - a slowly roasted suckling pig, or fresh octopus barbecued over an open charcoal pit. Fresh fish and glorious shellfish in plentiful supply and lots of fresh veggies from the surrounding farms. Cooking on Kos has stayed with the traditions of Greek cooking - fresh from the market daily - and added in Moorish spices.

The budget options - there is simply no substitute for a Greek taverna meal and one of the best is Angelica's in Kos itself. No pretensions here - just an outdoors feel, red-checked table cloths and Greek food the way momma cooked it, fresh from the grill. Think Octopus, lamb, seafood.

Mid-price options - Pelagos is in Kardemena in a harbourside location - just your typical daydream location really. The specialty here is fish and seafood in general. The delicate flavours are enhanced by the subtlest of spices, served with fresh salad - just what Hippocrates would have ordered. And should you have a sweet tooth, leave room for the Pannacotta.

Splurge - Hasan is a traditional Turkish restaurant in the resort town of Platani, set in the town square. Not super expensive, but consider yourselves lucky that it's not because this is excellent food. Kos's proximity to Turkish cuisine has left its mark and the food in Hasan's is very traditional Turkish with a nod to Greek foods like Moussaka. The meat and fish is bought daily at the markets

Things not to miss in Kos

Kos - everything for everyone

It's often a cliché to say that this or that island has something for everyone but it is indeed the case on Kos. Not only are the beaches terrific, the weather ideal and the food splendid; the range of activities includes boating, diving and action sports, plus there's an enormous number of seriously good historical sites to visit on those occasional days when the weather is not complying with your wishes.

Beaches - dare to do something different and visit the volcanic waters at Therma - about 10km from Kos. There's a little beach pool you can bathe in to experience the warm waters. The best beach on Kos is Paradise - lovely, long and sandy. Kefalos Beach is a sandy beach about 43km from Kos and ideal for windsurfers.

Historic sites - what your historic whistle with a visit to the Archaeological Museum in old town Kos. Visit the Knight's Castle and look out for the ancient agora and the ruins of the Shrine of Aphrodite. The Temple of Hercules and a fifth century Christian Basilica are on the north side of the Agora.

The volcanic island of Nisyros - this delightful island is a day trip from Kos and takes about an hour to get there. You can explore the volcanic caldera and then spend the afternoon in the town of Mandraki. Historical ruins include a castle built by the Knights Hospitaller who conquered the island in 1315.

Weather in Kos

What to wear, when to go

The weather on Kos is typical Mediterranean climate - meaning long, hot and dry summers and mild winters. You're guaranteed sunshine whatever time of year you come, although winter temps can get as low as 8°C overnight. Summer is clearly the preferred time and the coastal breezes keep temps bearable. Expect high 20s most days. The warm season runs from June until September. There is moderate rain and a chance of thunderstorms in the January - February months.

KOS WEATHER

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